Messages

2012 Archives

Christmas On Location

For most of us, the Christmas story takes place in a distant, middle-eastern city, 2000 years ago. That location is shrouded in a nostalgic halo of children's Christmas pageants or dusty descriptions of 1st century cultural conditions.But what if those specific locations are read as more than ancient places? What if they represent the current conditions of our lives today? Can Christ be born into these same locations today?

Sifted

There is an ancient practice of sifting wheat, separating the good wheat from the unwanted chaff. Seasons of sifting mark the life of a disciple. These times of trial and trouble can accelerate spiritual growth, increase our trust and surrender to God, and refine fruitfulness. Still, most of us prefer to avoid being sifted. We would rather make our own plans, work our to do lists, and make things happen on our own. The work of personal sifting is just hard, and it's messy. In this series, we will discuss what sifting is, and how it can make us more like Jesus.

Called

God calls people to join in His plans and purposes for the world. Sometimes His call is clear, like a thunderbolt. More often, His call comes in a still small voice, a whisper, a nudge--but it grips the heart. Nehemiah experiences just such a call from God. In this series, we will walk with Nehemiah through his response to that call, the action he takes, the obstacles he faces, and the lives he touches. Through his story, we can discover how to respond to the "divine nudges" in our lives. In a world of compassion fatigue and busy lives where we don't have time for another thing, how do we respond? And if we don't, who will?

Making Sense Of A Mysterious Book

To many, the Bible is a mystery book. Written thousands of years ago in faraway lands, its literary style, vocabulary and customs can easily seem strange to modern minds. But with a little help, it is both understandable and extremely relevant. The Bible is God's primary window into what life is intended to be. Though written thousands of years ago, its truths are timeless. What is the Bible all about? How do we approach it in an informed and healthy way? How do we deal with its complexities and challenges? Would you like to be able to read and understand the Bible? These four weeks will show you how.

Speaking Of

Most Christians genuinely want to share Jesus' story with others. But how can that happen without an explosion? Is it possible to have a reasonable conversation about God? In this series, we will dig into relevant spiritual topics that we can be "speaking of" with others.

Thrive

Life is full. Busy-ness seems to be the default for many people today. Life feels like a race with no clear finish line or prizes. Adding to this dilemma is the increasing fragmentation of life we find ourselves ricocheting between compartments. How does technology play a part in this? Do the ancient practices of Sabbath rest have any relevance now? What does life to the full look like when Christ is the one filling it up? This series of messages will help you explore these questions and discover how you can Thrive.

Next

The story of Jesus' life in this world is remarkable. But when He left, He didn't intend for the world to disintegrate without Him. Instead, He intended for it to get better! He left behind a growing body of believers who He said would do more than He did. This series of messages called "Next" is where the story of Jesus in our world gets more exciting and more personal!